Former CIA official describes the ‘difficult balance to strike’ in Syria negotiations

Mike Morell, after 33 years in the CIA, may have more experience briefing the president on classified intelligence than almost anyone. Morell retired from the CIA six days before the chemical weapons attack in Syria.

Morell talked to 60 Minutes for a Sunday piece, “The Briefer,” describing what it’s like to brief the president and where Syria may take us.

“Right now, Assad feels he’s winning, so he has absolutely no incentive,” to cooperate, Morell said. “So, enough support has to be provided to the opposition — to put enough pressure on Assad — to bring him to the negotiating table, but not enough support provided to the opposition so that they feel that they don’t need to go to the negotiating table. It’s a very difficult balance to strike.”